It is much more likely that the Chin-sha-chiang (reserving this name for the southward-flowing upper portion of the Yangtze) did actually continue southwards past Likiang, being subsequently beheaded by the upper course of the eastward-flowing portion cutting back westwards; the southern portion of the Chin-sha-chiang, being thus isolated from its source, ultimately disappearing.
The great Ña(g)-chu, or Ya-lung river, which with its tributaries issues from the southern slopes of the Bayankara range and ultimately joins the Hbri-chu, now Chin-sha-chiang, on its left bank, has perhaps a more precipitous upper course.
In this connection, Wu Chin-ting’s investigations during 1938-40 in Ta-li Hsien, in the Lake Erh and Tien-ts’ang Mountain area of western Yunnan a little way below the Chin-sha-chiang, are highly important.
